Weekly Update

Today was "Spring Picture Day" and since I didn't buy the pictures, since the fall pictures are still in my nightstand, I didn't see the point in buying another set, lol. So I took a picture of Janie Girl with her hair curled and called it good.

 Yesterday Mable and I cleaned out everyone's closets and she was loving finding some new treasures.

The BEST THING EVER happened last week- IT SNOWED!! The most snow I've ever seen in Las Vegas. They even called a snow day, which meant 2 days off of school! We had the best time playing in the snow, building snowmans, igloos, and sledding!

 We also threw tantrums in the snow...

 Ramona bundled up and came outside for a little bit too.

 We ran into our friends at the park too! Brody and Lucas

Toby and Lucas

 Mallory and Janie Girl

 Happiest Mable sledding

 Boogie Boards make GREAT Sleds!

 Monies and Mommy

 Princess Mable

 Cutest letter Lucas wrote to Jane

 Weekly Dance class for Mabes

Love these sweet kiddos!

Pictures of our day

If you were to look at the photos from today on my phone you would see several pictures of happy kids at the museum having a great time. I could even post them on Instagram and it would seem as though it was a perfect day.

But what you don't see is Mable's tantrum because we didn't go to her activity first, a disappointed Jane that we didn't stay longer at the fashion design table, a frustrated Lucas where he had to help me chase Mable while I tended to Ramona. 

Overall, yes the kids had fun and I want to remember the fun parts and the smiles on each of their faces when they got to go to their favorite exhibit, but honestly when we got back to the car I just sat for a few minutes taking deep breaths. It is so hard being a mom. I teeter between not caring what the world thinks because we look like a traveling circus or staying home for the rest of my life because it's just so hard.

After the museum we went to Chick-fil-a because I knew Mable would fall asleep on the way home and I wanted her to each lunch, but I also knew that it was going to be hard wrangling everyone during lunch hour. I decided I can't stay home the rest of my life because I have 4 kids so we headed over. It was wild and crazy, Mable was swinging from the line divider, the register was not working, Jane spilled her drink, Ramona was crying and needed her bottle and I was on the brink of tears.

Then the man behind me walked up, put his hand on my shoulder and said "You're doing great mom!" I silently cried... the register finally read my card, Jane got a new drink and we all walked to a table. We had a great lunch, talked about our favorite parts of the museum, got our refills and headed back to the car.

Tonight we all headed in different directions- the boys to baseball and the girls to soccer. It was 38 degrees out and FREEZING. We bundled up as best as we could.

Mable kept saying "I can't touch my hands" meaning, she couldn't feel them. My dear friend Tabitha saw that I had my littles with me and offered to bring Jane home so I could get my girls out of the cold. It made my night. 

Then as Andy and I were going to bed, this note was waiting for him:

Life is really hard right now, but the silver lining is it's worth it. It may not be perfect all the time... I am usually at my wits end by 7PM, but these kiddos are worth the crazy. :)

Snow Day!

We have had the craziest weather this winter and last night it started dumping snow! The kids have been begging to visit the snow to build a snowman and go sledding. We keep trying to plan a weekend to Utah, but life with 4 kids has made spontaneous trips a tad harder. When we woke up this morning they were over the moon to see snow in our backyard. We promptly got out the "Snow Bucket" full of all our snow clothes and dressed everyone as best we could. It was comical to say the least. The last time we bought snow clothes was when we lived in Utah 4 years ago--so we have a 2T snow bibs, a 4T snow bibs, and a bunch of mismatched snow gear.

The kids didn't care... they were just excited to play!

Cute Jane is wearing the 4T, Lucas old snow jacket and my gloves with some old hiking boots... In the background you'll notice Lucas wearing my snow pants. 

 Mable was over the moon to build "an Olaf like Anna"

 Sledding! The snow melted quickly so we had to move fast.

 We have 2 sleds and a boogie board.

 Afterwards they stopped off at Sonic for some drinks and Mable was killing me in her snow gear.

 Mom and Monies hanging out at home, keeping warm.

It was a dream come true for these desert rats!

Baking with Mable

The other day Mable asked for Pancakes. I wasn't really in the mood to make pancakes, but we really didn't have anywhere to be so I said yes. I asked her if she wanted to make them with me and she looked at me with a confused look. It dawned on me that I have never ever baked with Mable. When Lucas was a toddler I baked with him all the time! Since Jane has such severe food allergies I never bake with her because 90% of the time she is allergic to whatever I am making. It made me really sad that I have never baked with Mable because I just never think of it!

So we pulled out the kids chair and got to work. Mable had no idea what she was even supposed to do. She had no idea what a whisk was or how to crack an egg. We had so much fun making our pancakes and she was so proud of them when we were done. I am excited to bake with her now that I can since she isn't allergic to anything. It also made me realize what I have been missing out on with Jane and how whenever I do make something that she isn't allergic to I need to include her in on it.

**Also how perfect is her mismatched outfit and undies hanging out the side? I forget how independent toddlers are and it makes me so happy (most of the time, ha!) to experience new things with Mable.

While we were making pancakes, Ramona was playing on her playmat. When I went over to get her afterwards she had fallen asleep. She is the perfect 4th child that literally sleeps whenever and where ever. The older three kids would have NEVER done this. They always had to be perfectly swaddled and in their crib. Not Monies... she is content to just nap after a long hour of playtime. I love her.

Valentine's Day 2019

Probably nobody knows this about me, but Valentine's Day is my #1 favorite holiday. I love everything about it, from the conversation hearts to the chocolate to celebrating everyone I love all month long. This morning when we woke up I had hidden the kids Valentine baskets and had a maze of yarn all over the house. They had to start at the top of the stairs and follow their yarn to find their baskets. Lucas and Jane loved it and Mable gave up half way through... but in the end they were all thrilled with their small trinkets.

They all were dressed in red, pink, purple or hearts and we set off for school. Mable did NOT want her picture taken, haha.

We dropped Lucas and Jane off at school with their Valentine's and set off for Mable's Preschool Valentine party. She was OVER THE MOON to go to her first Valentine Party.

Before class, proudly holding her Valentine Box.

 So happy to eat yummy food and celebrate.

 Back home going through all her Valentines.

 This Valentine crown was the big hit of the day.

Setting the table for our Annual "Love" Dinner

Eating our Heart Waffles and laughing at Mable's antics... the usual family dinner. 

After dinner we had a family dance party that ended in tears from a bonked head and broken heart glasses. Everyone took a bath and brushed their teeth 3 times each from all the sugar consumed today. All in all I'd say it was a pretty perfect Valentine's Day!